The Wisconsin women's softball team (5-13) endured a tough weekend, losing all five of its games in the Mayfair Tournament in Long Beach, Calif.
The Badgers entered the tournament having won five of their last nine games, including a three-game winning streak in a tournament in Albuquerque, N.M. However, Wisconsin could not carry its momentum into Long Beach and struggled from the first game on Friday to the tournament's finale on Sunday.
Wisconsin began tournament play Friday against the Cougars of Brigham Young. Tied 2-2 through five innings, Wisconsin and BYU played a close game early on. But mistakes eventually caught up to the Badgers when an error and a pitching meltdown in the sixth inning led to an offensive explosion for the Cougars, who put a five-spot on the Badgers. In the seventh inning, BYU added a security run, making the final score 8-2.
The Badgers had to quickly overcome the loss and prepare for their Friday night game, the first of two with the Cal State Northridge Matadors. This time, Wisconsin's opponent scored early and often, as the Matadors put up six runs in the first two innings.
Wisconsin's offense finally came to life in the tournament against Cal State Northridge, with a four-run rally in the bottom of the second inning. But that was all the runs the Badgers would score in the contest, and the Matadors won round one, 7-4.
After a rough first day of tournament play, the Badgers had to bounce back and get ready for a pair of games Saturday against Long Beach State and Fresno State. Wisconsin looked to avenge losses to both schools in a tournament earlier this year.
However, the rematches with the two teams became a disaster for Wisconsin, as opponents outscored the Badgers 16-4 over the two games. Badger junior Letty Olivarez pitched a solid outing against the 49ers of LBSU, but Wisconsin's offensive production was absent. Despite a solo home run from freshman Karla Powell - the first of her career - the 49ers won, 4-1.
Wisconsin's game with the Fresno State Bulldogs was a disastrous affair from start to end, with the Bulldogs scoring seven runs in the first three innings. Despite a minor rally by the Badgers in the fourth inning, Fresno State ran away with the game. The Bulldogs rode the offensive surge of sophomore Caitlin Stiglich, who hit two home runs, including a three-run home run and a grand slam that ended the game in the fifth inning. Fresno State prevailed, 12-3.
The Badgers went into their Sunday game in desperate need of a victory. After the high-scoring affairs of the weekend, the Badgers' second game with Cal State Northridge evolved into a pitching duel. In the only scoring of the game, the Badgers gave up a run to the Matadors in the fourth inning. Despite a solid performance in the circle from Letty Olivarez, Cal State Northridge won round two, 1-0.
This weekend's tournament provided a curveball in the softball team's season as it continues to prepare for its conference schedule later this month. But the Badgers must first regroup for two more tournaments in Illinois and Hawaii. Next weekend, March 7-8, the Badgers will play in the Coach B Classic tournament in Carbondale, Ill., taking on a trio of teams from the Land of Lincoln, including two games with the host school, the No. 19 Salukis of Southern Illinois.
